sports briefs

UCI rowers sparkle

PHILADELPHIA — The UC Irvine women’s varsity four made history in winning the grand final at the 71st annual Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River May 9.

The Anteaters became the first crew in UCI history to finish first at the Dad Vail Regatta, winning in 7 minutes 36.362 seconds to claim the Margaret McNiff Trophy.

Brock University of Canada was second in 7:37.370.

UCI entered the semifinal heat with the fastest time trial from the first day and the Anteaters placed second to advance to the grand final.

Three hours later, UCI Coach Carrie Chamberlain-Parsons’ varsity four of Heather Conniff (coxswain), Ashley Fee (stroke), Alex Bolt (three), Elizabeth Nguyen (two), and Allison Baker (bow) took to the water for their final race of the season. The original 37 crews from Friday had been narrowed down to the final six.

Out of the blocks, UCI took control of the race leading Brock, Drake, Stetson, Tulsa and Jacksonville into the first 500-meter mark. The Anteaters set a blistering pace in windy, choppy conditions, en route to making history.

— From staff reports

UCI’s Bibona, Pettis up for national award

UC Irvine juniors Danny Bibona and Eric Pettis have been named to the College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year watch list.

The initial list is comprised of the 50 top pitchers in the country and the winner will be honored July 2 in Lubbock, Texas during the College Baseball Awards show.

Bibona, a first-team All-American and the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year, was 12-1 with a 2.63 earned-run average in 15 starts for the Anteaters, whose season ended in the Irvine Regional Sunday.

The left-hander struck out 108 in 106 innings, allowing just 78 hits and walking 26. He limited opponents to a .209 batting average.

Pettis, a third-team All-American and a repeat first-team all-conference performer, had 17 saves while posting a 5-2 record and a 3.86 ERA. He struck out 37 in 42 innings and his 17 saves tied a school single-season record he already shared with former teammate Blair Erickson.

The duo helped UCI finish 45-15, 22-2 in conference, the latter good for the program’s first Big West title.

— From staff reports

UCI’s Hamel honored

UC Irvine freshman Stephanie Hamel was named first-team All-Big West Conference in singles and doubles and was also the conference’s Freshman of the Year in women’s tennis.

Senior Heidi Kaloi paired with Hamel to earn first-team doubles honors.

Freshman Courtney Byron was a second-team honoree in singles.

Sophomore Brooke Bartlett received honorable mention in singles, as did the doubles tandem of Byron and sophomore Miranda Young.

— From staff reports

Buran in Hall of Fame

Joey Buran will be inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach on July 24.

The Costa Mesa resident is a former Pipeline Masters champion and the first Californian to win a World Tour event.

Buran started the Professional Surfing Assn. of America in the mid-1980s and now coaches the U.S. national team.

For information, visit hsssurf.com/hall.